{"id":502739,"date":"2025-10-15T23:57:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T23:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/502739\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T23:57:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T23:57:18","slug":"leeds-academy-graduate-archie-gray-nominated-for-golden-boy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/502739\/","title":{"rendered":"Leeds academy graduate Archie Gray nominated for Golden Boy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leeds United<\/a> sold Archie Gray<\/a> to Tottenham in the summer of 2024, and the midfielder is looking to progress towards being a Premier League regular.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leeds\u2019 2-1 defeat at home to Spurs prior to the international break brought a handful of reunions on both sides.<\/p>\n

One of those was Archie Gray, who didn\u2019t get on the pitch, but made his feelings known to us Leeds fans at full-time.<\/p>\n

Most Read on LeedsAllOver<\/p>\n

Archie Gray nominated for Golden Boy award \u2013 Prize for best U21 talent playing in Europe<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shame we never really got to see Gray flourish long-term in a Leeds shirt. His performances in 23\/24 were marvellous, but at right-back, we didn\u2019t see the best of him.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t deter Spurs from being willing to fork out \u00a340million<\/a> to sign him. After a mixed first year where he was largely again out of position, his stock remains incredibly high and growing.<\/p>\n

\"\"Archie Gray made his return to Elland Road as Leeds United hosted Spurs this month. (Action Images via Reuters\/Andrew Boyers)<\/p>\n

Fabrizio Romano<\/a> has revealed the Golden Boy nominations for 2025, an award for the best youngster under the age of 21 \u2013 and Gray is nominated.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udea8 OFFICIAL: Golden Boy 2025 finalists as 25-men shortlist has been unveiled \u2b50\ufe0f<\/p>\n

D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7
Leny Yoro \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7
Senny Mayulu \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7
Warren Zaire-Emery \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7
Eliesse Ben Seghir \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7
Mamadou Sarr \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7
Ethan Nwaneri \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f
Nico O\u2019Reilly \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f
Archie Gray \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f
Jobe Bellingham \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f
Pau Cubars\u00ed \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8
Dean Huijsen\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/8AYkVbVqqz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

English starlets Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Nico O\u2019Reilly (Manchester City), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) are also up for the award.<\/p>\n

One would expect Desire Doue (PSG) scoops up the prize after a stunning season helped his side to the Champions League.<\/p>\n

Archie Gray nomination underlines Leeds United\u2019s youth development strength \u2013 potential selling point to new signings?<\/p>\n

You could see from Gray\u2019s debut against Cardiff City in August 2023 that he was special, and this nomination doesn\u2019t teach us anything new about the player Leeds saw slip away from them.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s the latest proof that Leeds are a superb platform for these players. Gray isn\u2019t the first Leeds-affiliated name to be up for the prize in recent years.<\/p>\n

\"\"Joe Gelhardt and Willy Gnonto have also been nominated for the Golden Boy award. (Pictures via Reuters)<\/p>\n

The 2022 iteration saw United have two players nominated<\/a> in the initial 100-player list. Joe Gelhardt\u2019s breakout saw him named, while Willy Gnonto (signed in September 2022) made the final 20-player shortlist.<\/p>\n

If Leeds can consistently have players come through their ranks and be part of such a prestigious award, then we\u2019re clearly doing something right.<\/p>\n

Of course, it would be nice if Gelhardt\u2019s breakout manifested into something more lasting than just helping us stay up. Or Gray staying for more than a year. However, it demonstrates that Leeds in the past few years have had assets on their books viewed as some of the best in world football.<\/p>\n

The next Gray off the conveyor belt might be the best of the bunch so far too.<\/a><\/p>\n